The International Conference on : Excellence, Creativity, and Innovation in Basic & Higher Education

The International Centre for Innovation in Education (ICIE) is committed to the development of all learners as productive world citizens and leaders for the future. This International Conference will provide a conference programme with the highest calibre of: Nobel Prize winners, keynote speakers, invited speakers, and a large number of scholars and presenters alongside a selection of exhibitors. The ICIE conferences are milestones in the journey towards leadership, creativity and innovation in basic-higher education and psychology.

The International Conference on : Excellence, Creativity, and Innovation in Basic & Higher Education

Conference Aims and Objectives:
Encourage volunteer spirit; Promote excellence and sustain quality; Connecting Communities; Strive for improvement; Evolve responsibly; Meet community expectations of quality; Sustain competitiveness and viability; and Balance innovation with core essentials.We encourage anyone with an interest in: innovation in education, excellence in education, and gifted education to attend this conference. The participants will include: university academics, psychologists, education policy advisers and managers, business and industry leaders, gifted and talented program coordinators, school heads, graduate students, parents and caretakers.

Utilising ICT to Rekindle the Lost Art of Creative Thought and Differentiate Learning for Gifted Students

Moderator: Carolyn Giles

Presenters: Carolyn Giles; Sarah Rogerson; Juliette Gartside

Abstract

In conversing with highly able students, more questions are inevitably raised than answers; this is particularly true when considering whether the teaching practices employed are meeting educational needs. The digital world offers the promise of a new world of learning for our young people. One in which they can gather knowledge and explore ideas with rapidity and express their thoughts in multi-modal domains. The emphasis on preparing students for ’life’ through a sound education has been an important scaffold for many, but tragically for most highly able thinkers this has meant that their once cherished creativity has been snaffled away. Returning to students what the system had effectively stolen from them, with the well intentioned premise of ‘preparing them for life’, became a focus for Action Research undertaken with highly able students in Australia. This digital revolution, however, comes with challenges; lack of connectivity and socio- economic concerns present the danger of imposing a digital divide. In countries with vast distances, isolated or economically disadvantaged schools and communities may be under-resourced, placing limitations on young people’s developmental opportunities.

Utilising ICT to support differentiated learning for gifted students can be a means to unfetter student potential raising the question, how can learning programs be differentiated to ensure curriculum requirements are met while still retaining the integrity of creative thought? Exploring this question has led both students and educators down a path of wonderment and innovation. A path, acknowledging that ICT was born of a creative mind and embraced by our world, has been integral in re-igniting a passion and thirst for creative outcomes. Presenting solutions rather than seeking questions has long been the downfall of creative thought within our educational settings. Through examining the Australian Story and the harnessing of technology to meet student needs, participants will share the journey of educational innovation, tenaciously grabbing hold of great questions that become springboards to enquiring, creative minds switched on to learning and forging footsteps that will change our world.

Short Biographies

Carolyn Giles:

Consultant in Gifted Education to Australian Learning Institutions.

Facilitator of Academic Acceleration Program Private Girls’ School Melbourne.

Director of Born to Soar Propriety Limited.

(an Australian online learning environment for highly able learners).

Sarah Rogerson:

MModLangEd.

Classroom teacher Private Parallel Education School Melbourne.

Consultant and Speaker in Technology Integration in Language Classrooms.

Convenor of Academic Extension Program in School setting.

Juliette Gartside:

MED Special Education.

Head of Gifted Talented and Special Needs Private Girls School Melbourne.

The International Centre for Innovation in Education (ICIE) is committed to the development of all learners as productive world citizens and leaders for the future. This International Conference will provide a conference programme with the highest calibre of: Nobel Prize winners, keynote speakers, invited speakers, and a large number of scholars and presenters alongside a selection of exhibitors. The ICIE conferences are milestones in the journey towards leadership, creativity and innovation in basic-higher education and psychology.

Conference Aims and Objectives:

Encourage volunteer spirit;

Promote excellence and sustain quality;

Connecting Communities;

Strive for improvement;

Evolve responsibly;

Meet community expectations of quality;

Sustain competitiveness and viability; and

Balance innovation with core essentials.

This conference provides you with the opportunity to:

Explore the latest developments in education & psychology in general, and innovation in education in particular;

Examine the need for sustainable educational systems;

Integrate the latest technology into the education system;

Debate the future of education & psychology: What are the challenges ahead?

Learn from innovative case studies where educational institutions have taken the initiative;

Engage in a series of seminars designed to debate the theory and practice of real improvement in education & psychology; and

Participate in pre-conference workshops designed to develop participants' competencies.

We encourage anyone with an interest in: innovation in education, excellence in education, and gifted education to attend this conference. The participants will include: university academics, psychologists, education policy advisers and managers, business and industry leaders, gifted and talented program coordinators, school heads, graduate students, parents and caretakers.